Teachers union ad blitz attacks California Governor Newsom for handling monumental crisis.
Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent change in direction regarding public school funding cuts and his agreement with the influential California Teacher’s Association (CTA), the union is still running an attack ad against him until the deal is officially passed in the legislature.
The CTA, known as the state’s powerful progressive teachers union, launched the ad against Newsom after he initially proposed a reduction in funding for public schools by $12 billion over the next few years to address the state’s budget deficit.
The 30-second ad features a narrator stating, “California classrooms face a monumental crisis, tens of billions of dollars in cuts to public education over the next three years, bigger class sizes, thousands of teachers laid off, essential resources like counselors, nurses, and special education aides, gone.”
The CTA’s ad highlights the looming crisis under Newsom’s budget revision and urges lawmakers and the governor to pass a state budget that prioritizes protecting public schools for the benefit of students and communities.
After Newsom and the CTA reached a new agreement that addresses their policy differences, CTA President David B. Goldberg stated, “We will continue to work with the Governor and the Legislature to safeguard constitutionally protected school funding for the 2024-25 budget year and beyond.”
The revised agreement promises a more favorable approach to Proposition 98, a law enacted in 1988 that guarantees a specific funding amount for public schools each fiscal year, ensuring schools will receive an additional $5.5 billion in the future.
A spokesperson for Newsom’s office noted, “We have resolved our policy differences with CTA,” emphasizing the cooperative efforts to move forward after the recent disagreements.
The ongoing clash with the CTA arises as Newsom presented a revised budget this month, which included a $150 per student reduction compared to his initial proposal. Additionally, the budget outlined sweeping cuts to over 10,000 government positions, an 8% decrease in state operations, and the elimination of progressive climate programs.
Newsom initially projected a budget deficit of $38 billion in January, while the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) estimated it closer to $45 billion. However, Newsom’s recent revision aligning with the LAO’s projections brought the deficit to over $70 billion through 2025-26.
The recent agreement between Newsom and the CTA highlights the substantial influence the union holds in Sacramento, as it had threatened to take legal action against Newsom over the proposed funding cuts. The CTA has been a long-time supporter of Newsom, contributing significant amounts to his various campaigns over the years.
In conclusion, the dynamic between Newsom and the CTA reflects the complexities of budget negotiations and the significant impact of policy decisions on education funding in California. The ongoing partnership between the governor’s office and the teachers’ union will continue to shape the future of public education in the state, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and compromise in crafting budgets that prioritize the needs of students and educators.
